Action for a concertina



Dec. 13, 1932.

0. A. SCHLICHT ACTION FOR A CONCERTINA Filed June 15, 1952 I'lUNITEQDiVSTA Patented Dee. 13, 1932 or'ronjscnmcn'r, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 'Ac'rron non A concnmrmn Application filed June 15,

The invention relates to improvements in the action for an instrument of the concertina type, it being an object of theinvention to provide a new and improved action for such I; aninstrument whichis simplein construction and quiet'and fast in operation. I H Another object is to providesuch an action in which the valve actuating bars are pivotal- 15 mounted by means which serve asnoise in- 15 sulatorsihetween the parts. I p l V ,1 I Y A further object is to provide an improved 1 action in which the-actuating bars are effectivel mounted in proper alinement and in whic two sets of levers, mounted onadjacent pivot rodspositioned equidistantly'from the key-board, are supportedso as topermit the use-of levers ofsimple form with straightkey operated arms which maybe manufactured and assembled at a low cost. i 1 Another object is toprovide an action in v which a fibre or other nonrmeta'llic member is provided intermediate :the bars and their pivot bushings so as toprevent any metallic ring being-transmitted therethrough, and for thepurpose of displacing the bar away from c the bushingto provide clearance for a set of long bars having substantially straight key 'operatedarms. v p V Other objects will'becomereadily apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection withthe accompanying drawing,'inwhich: I Q 1 F ig. l is a planview of an action for a con- 2 certina-embodying a preferred form of the invention. I

Fig. 2 is a section along the line 22 of Fig. 1. a Fig. 3-is an enlarged fragmentarysection alongthe line'33 of Fig. c 1 p JFig. i 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section along the'line 4-4; of 3. Y c c I I Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a pivoted mounting member for a bar." {For purposes of disclosure I have illust-rated in the drawing and shall hereinafter describe in detail-a preferred embodiment of theinvention as incorporated inian action for: a Concertina, with the understanding that I do not intend to limit the invention to the particular instrument or construction shown, it

tend longitudinally thereof, and

1932. Serial No. 617,277.

being contemplated that various changes and adaptations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents an action supporting plate or key-board which forms one wall of the reed chamber of a concertina. This key-board carries a plurality of reed boxes 2, 3 and 4 on its inner side and V has a pluralityof apertures therein which 50 are positioned in parallel rows and are arranged to be controlled by rows of valves 7, 8

and9. A pair oflaterally spaced bracketslO and ll are secured to the key-board and exsupport a 85 plurality of pivot rods 12, 13 and 14 which extend therebetween. These rods are suitably secured to the brackets by means of holding devices 1:5,the rods 12 and 13 being preferably spaced an equal distance from the key-board. In the preferred form of the invention sets of key operated bars 17, 18 and 19 are provided respectively, for supporting and operating the valves 7, 8 and 9. As illustrated most clearly in Fig. 2 thesebars are pivotally mounted on therods 12, 13 and 14:, long barsl'? on the rod 12 and the short bars 18 on the rod 13. Preferably the barsare mounted on the pivot rods by means offibre or other non-metallic connecting members or blocks 21 soa s to space the bars from the rods and-to prevent noise being transmittedtherethrough; As illustrated herein these membersare provided with bores 22 into, which relatively long sleeve bushings 23are inserted with a pressed fit, the bushings being mounted on the pivot rods. In their free ends each member 21 is provided with a recess 24 in which an operating bar ispositioned, the bar being secured to the block by means of avsuitable pin 25.

' As will be readily apparent from Figs. 3 to 5, the bars may thus be secured rigidly to the free ends of-the members '21 and are effectively heldin proper alinement by means ofthe relatively long bushings 23 which iorm snug fitting, yet-readily rotatable, bearing supports. Preferably the bushings are of'sufficient length-so that adjacentubushings abut each other'as shownin Fig. 1, a spacing sleeve "simple 7 shape 7 aiforded between the longbarsxl'? and 27 being provided at one end of the pivot rod and a coil spring 28 at the other end so tions'.

The provision of non-metallic members and'long sleeve bushings for mounting the bars serves to eliminate, noise during the operation oftheaction by reducing wear-and looseness and avoiding direct metallic contact between thebars and rods. The long sleeve bushings are also elfectivetomaintain the alinement of the bars. Furthermore by and are pivotally secured to'the valves 7, the

valves being: normally held in their closed positions by means-of springs 29.- The right hand or key operated ends 17 of the bars are straight and pass an appreciable distance above the rod-13, ample clearance being pro-. vided between the bars 17 and rod 13V to permitof theiproper operation of the action,

Theleft hand ends 18 of theibarsl8 are also curved downwardly and ,are pivotally secured' to the valves 8, the'liey operated ends l8 'thereof also being straight and on alevel withthe bars 17. Thebars are preferably made of a light material such as aluminum with the result that an extremely fast'an'd noiseless operation of the action'is secured; I claim as myinvention: 4 o I 1. An action for musical instruments of the concentina type having, in combinatioma key-board carrying two. parallel rows of reed boxes,'two parallel rows of valves for controlling the apertures to said reed boxes, a

pair of parallel pivot rods supported at sub "stantially' the same distance from the keyboard, sets'oflong and short valve supporting and actuating-bars, non-metallic memberseX- tending downwardly from said bars'an'd C211? rying sleevebu'shings mounted on said rods, the set of shortbars beingmounted' onkthe rod nea'rerthekey operated ends-0f the bars, and the longer bars having substantially straight key-operated ends passingabove the pivot rod forthe shorter barsand spaced therefrom by said'members. 2. An action for musical instruments oflthe 'concertina type having, in combination, a

key-board carrying two parallel rows of reed boxes,-two para1lel rows'of valves for controlling :the apertures-.to-said reed boxes,.,a pair of parallel pivot rods supported at'substantially the same distance fror'n' the keyboard,.two sets of ,long and short valve supporting and actuating bars, recessed fibre members secured to said bars,metal bushings extending through bores in said members and as to maintain the bars in their proper posi-' mountedon said rods, the set of short bars being mounted on the rod nearer the key operated ends of the bars, and the longer bars having substantially straight key operated ends passing above the pivot rod for the shorter bars and spaced therefrom by said members. 1 f

.3. In an action for musical instruments of the concertina type, in combination with a pivotrod, a plurality of valve supporting and operating bars, fibre connecting members secured to said bars and having recesses in which the bars fit, sleeve bushings pressed through bores in saidmembers out of contact with said bars and mounted on said rods so as to pivotally support the bars, the bushings of adjacent connecting members abutting each other to space the bars longitudinally of the rod, and resilient means for maintaining said bushings in abutment with each other during Operation. Y I

44; In an action for.musicalzinstruments' of theconcertina type, incombination with a pivotfrod,.a plurality of'valve supporting and operating-bars, non-metallic blocks secured rigidly to said bars, and sleeve bush ings pressed throughbores insaid members out of contactwith said bars and mounted on; 1

said rods so as to pivotallysupport the bars. .5. An action'for instruments of the concertlna type having, in ,combination'with-ya pivot rod, a pluralityvof valvesupporting and operating mechanisms comprising parallel barsextendingacross and spaced from the rod, and means including fibre members connecting the bars pivotally to the rod.

6. aAn-action for instruments of the con certina type having, in combination, a pivot, rod, anda plurality of valve suporting and operating mechanisms comprising parallel bars extending across and spaced from the rod, non-metallic members secured to the bars, and bearing sleeves extending through bores in saidmembers and pivotally mountedontherod.

7. In; anzaction for a concertina, thecombination with a pivot rod, of a valve actuating bar ,ofaluminum, a fibre block having a recess into which the bar fits, securedto the bar, and

a bearing bushing extending through said fibse block and supporting the bar on said ro V 8 An action for instruments of the concertina type having,j in combination, a keyboard, a pair of pivot rods supported equidistantly from said board, sets of valve actuat-. ing bars having substantially straight key operated ends, and'nonmetallic members pivotally mounted on'said rods and connected to said bars 'to space the barsfromthe rods.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto afiixed my signature. c a OTTO A. SGHLICHT, 

